The Forsaken Nations

Chief amongst the Crowned Powers are the nations of the Shining Races.  They possess the lion's share of power in Faengleis, with the largest and most skilled armies, the longest histories, and the most stable polities.  Much of their power stems from magic, which is greatly respected but poorly understood by the layfolk.

Below them are the nations of the "Forsaken Races," those who are not blessed with magical power.  This, in turn, is something of a misnomer, because many of these countries have populations that include members of the Shining Races but that--for whatever reason--possess disproportionately less global influence.  Often, this is because the designation is less of a nation-state and more of a loose grouping used to define a cultural group for the ease of outsiders without reflecting the true complexity of their lifestyle.